The Issue:

Lack of Student Engagement and Financial Transparency

As members of the George Washington University community, we pride ourselves with our commitment to creating a strong education with unique “Only at GW” experiences in our nation’s capital. Each of us pays at least $54,000 in tuition and housing costs every year. With a university operating budget of over $830 million from student fees, real-estate and financial investments, grants, and alumni support, there appears to be no shortage of funds to build the college experience that we strive to create.

With nearly 400 student organizations facing declining budgets, notable professors leaving for higher-paying peer institutions, academic and club sports teams turning down tournament invites due to travel costs, and increased university fees for the use of academic technology, our university faces many financial challenges—but is the problem with the amount of funds or how they are being spent?

“At GW, politics is not a spectator sport,” our advertising campaigns read. But for university politics related to financial matters, students are sitting on the sidelines instead of being at the table to discuss how our tuition dollars are spent.

The time has come to promote student engagement and financial transparency at the University that we love.